North Carolina Authorities Charge Couple for Concealing Deceased Man Discovered in Parked Car on Rural Dirt Road

Authorities in North Carolina have charged two people for failing to report the death of a man found in a car on a rural dirt road west of Parkton.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 9:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Charlotte Observer

The Discovery on Dogwood Trails Road

Sheriff’s deputies in Robeson County have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a body found abandoned inside a parked vehicle on a remote dirt road. The discovery was made on March 13 along the 100 block of Dogwood Trails Road, a rural stretch located west of Parkton, North Carolina. According to investigators, the deceased individual has been identified as Zachary David Johnson, a 36-year-old resident of Fayetteville who had previously relocated from Vancouver, Washington. The location of the vehicle, situated approximately 80 miles southwest of Raleigh, has become the focal point of a probe into why the death was not immediately reported to emergency services.

Medical Examiner Issues Preliminary Findings

Initial reports from the Medical Examiner’s Office indicate that the passing of the victim does not currently appear to be the result of foul play or a homicide. While the physical evidence at the scene suggested a non-violent end, the sheriff’s office confirmed that comprehensive toxicology results remain pending to determine the exact physiological cause of death. Despite the lack of immediate evidence pointing toward a murder, the investigation shifted toward the individuals who were allegedly present during or shortly after the event, leading to criminal charges based on their subsequent actions in hiding the remains.

Suspects Identified in Death Concealment Case

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office has linked two individuals to the abandoned vehicle and the failure to notify law enforcement of the fatality. Investigators identified the suspects as 45-year-old Scott Vaughan of Raeford and 40-year-old Robin C. Smith of Fayetteville. Authorities allege that the pair acted with the specific intent to conceal the death of the victim rather than seeking medical or legal assistance. The connection between the suspects and the deceased man is still being examined as part of the broader effort to reconstruct the timeline leading up to the vehicle being left on the rural road.